Lawmakers hold debate on const amendment on migrant quotas

The need to amend the constitution arises when the country faces such challenges to which a wrong response could alter Hungary for the long-term or forever, Lajos Kosa, the head of ruling Fidesz's parliamentary group, said in Parliament on Monday.

Source:MTI

Speaking after Prime Minister Viktor Orban made his opening remarks to the tabled constitutional amendment on EU migrant quotas, Kosa said Hungary must "remain the same country it has been known as for a long time".Jozsef Szajer, a MEP for Fidesz, said the amendment is in line with current trends, EU laws and basic treaty and the Lisbon Treaty.

Addressing the debate, leader of the radical nationalist Jobbik party said the Oct. 2 referendum had not created a "new united bloc" as Orban had suggested in his opening remarks. Gabor Vona said it is "not in line with reality and also incredible" that such unity would emerge after the referendum, as there are more people in Hungary who oppose the EU migrant quota plan than who participated in the public vote. "Many people did not vote because they disagree with Orban holding political power," he said. At the same time Jobbik will take part in the debate as a "patriotic duty" and will also take part in enacting a "strong and effective" constitutional protection against migrant quotas.

The opposition LMP party will take part in the debate but will not vote on the seventh constitutional amendment, the party's co-leader Akos Hadhazy said. He said the amendment "pretends to be about migration" but in reality it does not provide answers to the problems of refugees and asylum-seekers. He added that Hungarians are in fear over the issue of migration which the government increased with its "hate campaign". The amendment is also of a "low standard" in terms of using legal concepts that do not exist, he added. Bernadett Szel, the party's other leader, said the debate about the constitutional amendment is a "simple diversion" from issues such as low wages, poor health care and government corruption.

The opposition Socialists will not take part in the constitutional amendment process, staying away both from the debate and the vote, the party's deputy group leader said. Laszlo Varga said Fidesz is not authorised to amend the constitution and the prime minister and governing parties are using the voice of a small minority as a reference. "This is what a dictator does," to force a minority's will onto the majority to serve its own power interests, he said, adding that the Socialists will not assist to such "power tactics".